CALOWELL 


Univ.  of  California 
Withdrawn 


GIFT  OF 


RAINBOW  STORIES 


Other  Books  by  the  same  Author: 

LEGENDS  of  SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA 
LEGENDS  of  SAN  FRANCISCO 
ORIENTAL  RAMBLES 
THE  WIZZYWAB 


Cit-t/h 


RAINBOW  STORIES 


By  GEORGE  W.  CALDWELL,  M.  D. 


Illustrated  by 
JANE  JEFFERSON  FLIPPEN 


Published  by  Phillips  &  Van  Orden  Co. 
509-521  Howard  Street.  San  Francisco 


Copyright  1919  by 

GEORGE  W.  CALDWELL,  M.  D. 


Printed  by  Phillips  &  Van  Orden  Co. 
San  Francisco,  California 


In  the  preface,  it  jjbn't  matter 
If  I  write  a  bit  of  chatter, 
Incidentally  to  mention 
That  my  really,  true  intention 
When  I  wrote  each  little  fable 
Was  that  Mother  might  be  able 
To  avoid  a  lot  of  bother 
Turning  questions  o'er  to  Father. 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 

The  stories,  Tom,  The  Prince  Courageous, 
and  The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland 
were  suggested  by  tales  related  by  Miss 
Katherine  Rosetta  Hawthorn,  a  seven-year- 
old  story-teller  of  remarkable  genius. 

The  writer  thanks  Miss  Katherine  for  the 
privilege  of  making  use  of  some  of  her 
many  original  ideas,  and  predicts  for  her  a 
brilliant  literary  career. 

Dr.   George   W.   Caldwell. 


The  Flight  to  Fairyland 17 

The  Fairies  in  the  Flowers 31 

Sleepy  Eyes 33 

How  the  Stars  Came  in  the  Sky 37 

Boomaroar,  and  the  Rainbow 41 

Boomaroar,  and  the  Sea  Shells 43 

The  Music  in  the  Sea  Shells 45 

The  Fairy  Blackbird 51 

How  the  Rabbit  Lost  His  Tail 55 

The  Discontented  Elephant 59 

Tom,  The  Prince  Courageous 63 

The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland 73 


The  road  to  Fairyland,  it  seems, 

Winds  through  the  magic  Land  of  Dreams; 

The  children  love  to  wander  there, 

To  build  their  castles  in  the  air. 
Imagination — How  it  grows 
When  we  are  young,  and  where  it  goes 
When  we  grow  up — nobody  knows. 


THE   FLIGHT   TO   FAIRYLAND 

JOHNNIE  BOB  put  aside  his  book  of  Fairy  Tales, 
and  stretched  out  on  the  grass. 

"I  wonder  if  there  really  are  Fairies,"  he  mused 
sleepily  as  he  studied  the  changing  forms  of  the  fleecy 
clouds.  He  could  imagine  in  them  armadas  of  ships 
sailing  across  the  sky,  or  columns  of  cavalry,  or  Roman 
chariot  races,  or  distant  seas  with  islands  and  moun 
tainous  shores,  but  nowhere  could  he  make  out  anything 
that  looked  at  all  like  a  Fairy.  "Perhaps  they  only 
appear  when  one  is  asleep.  If  I  close  my  eyes  and  keep 
very  still,  one  may  come  and  talk  to  me."  He  was  silent 
for  a  long  time,  but  all  he  could  hear  was  the  sighing 
of  the  breeze  in  the  branches  overhead.  "I  wonder  if  I 
could  understand  the  Fairy  language." 

"I  am  afraid  not,"  chirped  a  Cricket  who  was  sawing 
down  a  grass  stem  nearby.  "Babies  use  some  Fairy 
words,  but  they  forget  them  when  they  grow  up.  To 
learn  it  well  one  must  go  to  the  Fairy  school." 

"Do  Fairies  have  to  go  to  school  too?  I  thought  they 
were  always  happy." 

"They  like  it.  They  don't  need  to  study.  The  teacher 
tells  them  stories." 


[17] 


18  :«• "  J&a.i.nbGW  Stories 


"Oh!  I  would  like  that.  May  I  go  to  the  Fairy 
school?" 

"Perhaps  it  can  be  arranged.  Climb  on  my  back,  and 
I  will  take  you  to  Fairyland  to  see  the  teacher." 

"Be  careful,  Johnnie  Bob."  A  Rabbit  interrupted  in 
a  warning  voice.  "No  doubt  he  means  well,  but  you  are 
much  too  large  to  ride  on  a  cricket.  For  one  carrot  I 
will  take  you  there  in  a  night  and  the  fur  of  my  back 
will  keep  your  feet  warm." 

"In  that  case  we  had  better  be  going,"  Johnnie  Bob 
replied,  "for  the  night  will  be  very  dark." 

"Very  dark.  Very  dark,"  echoed  a  mysterious  voice 
from  the  tree  overhead.  Johnnie  Bob  looked  up.  A 
grey  Owl  perched  on  a  branch  was  regarding  him 
solemnly.  "Beware.  Beware,"  continued  the  Owl,  lift 
ing  one  foot  in  appropriate  gestures,  "Rabbits  fall  into 
holes,  and  are  hunted  by  Men.  Who  sees  best  at  night? 
The  Owl,  of  course.  I  will  take  you  to  Fairyland.  I 
know  the  way.  Did  you  ever  wonder  where  the  Owls 
go  to  in  the  daytime  ?"  He  closed  one  eye  and  whispered 
confidentially, — "Fairyland.  And  furthermore,  I  work  a 
little  magic  here  and  there,  now  and  then.  How  would 
you  like  a  nice,  new  pair  of  feather  wings,  so  that  you 
could  fly  all  by  yourself  ?  You  would  ?  Then  stand  up  and 
wiggle  your  nose  while  I  do  the  magic." 


The  Flight  to  Fairyland  19 


The  Owl  braced  his  legs  well  apart,  and,  puffing  out 
his  chest  with  a  deep  breath,  hooted : 

"Hoo-o,  hoo !  Hoohoo,  hoo-oo ! 
Hoo-o,  hoo !  Hoohoo,  hoo-oo !" 

There  was  a  sharp  rustle  of  feathers  as  a  pair  of 
wings  spread  out  from  the  sides  of  Johnnie  Bob's  arms. 
After  flapping  them  a  few  times  to  be  sure  they  were  on 
securely,  he  arose  in  the  air  with  the  Owl,  and  to 
gether  they  flew  away  towards  the  far,  far  East  where, 
as  everyone  knows,  is  to  be  found  the  best  kind  of  magic. 

A  wise  old  bird  is  the  Owl,  my  dears, 

His  tongue  is  remarkably  short,  my  dears, 

But  he  has  a  pair  of  pointed  ears, 

And  his  eyes  are  big  and  blinking! 
The  less  he  talks,  the  more  he  hears ; 
The  more  he  looks,  the  more  appears; 
So  he  is  wise  beyond  his  years, 
For  he  does  a  lot  of  thinking. 

As  they  soared  higher  and  higher,  the  earth  seemed  to 
unroll  below  them  like  a  great  map.  They  could  see 
meadows  laid  off  in  squares,  rivers  meandering  through 
the  plains,  highways  tracing  a  network  over  the  country. 
The  cities,  villages  and  towns  seemed  to  pass  beneath 
them  as  they  winged  their  way  along. 


20  Rainbow  Stories 


"You  soon  will  fly  as  well  as  I 
If  you  will  keep  on  trying," 
The  Owl  remarked,  "and  I  deny 
There's  better  fun  than  flying. 

How  slow  the  autos  seem  to  us — 
How  still  the  ocean  shipping. 

I  wouldn't  ride  a  motor  bus ; 
I  like  the  fun  of  dipping. 

It  is  a  rather  reckless  thing, 
But  there's  no  greater  pleasure 

Than  sliding  down  on  slanting  wing, 
To  right  myself  at  leisure. 

We  watch  the  people  stop  and  stare 
With  envy  in  their  faces, 

But  few,  I  think,  will  ever  dare 
To  try  to  take  our  places." 


The  Flight  to  Fairyland  21 


"I  have  never  been  afraid  of  falling,"  Johnnie  Bob 
replied,  "for 

In  my  wonderful  dreams  I  can  fly 

If  I  try. 

When  dangers  assail  me 

I  spring  in  the  air 
As  light  as  a  feather 

With  never  a  care; 
And  flapping  my  wings 
To  get  used  to  the  things, 
I  fly  over  rivers 

And  over  the  seas — 
Above  the  green  medows 

And  forests  with  ease, 
And  when  I  would  rest 

At  the  close  of  the  day 
I  float  like  a  bubble. 
It's  really  no  trouble 
Escaping  from  Injuns, 

Or  tigers,  or  men, 
Who  swiftly  pursue 

Me  in  anger,  and  then 
They  can't  beat  me,  nor  eat  me, 

Nor  cheat  me,  and  when 
They  see  me  escape 

In  that  curious  way, 


22  Rainbow  Stories 


They  stop  and  they  stare 
Right  up  in  the  air 
And,  my,  how  they  glare 

With  their  bad,  cruel  eyes 

Opened  wide  in  surprise. 
But  that  doesn't  fret  me, 
They  never  can  get  me 

For  I  know  they  can't  fly. 

They  don't  even  try, 

And  that  may  be  why, 
No  matter  who  chases, 
I  laugh  in  their  faces 

In  my  wonderful  dreams 

I  can  fly. 

I  never  knew  I  could  fly 

Till  one  night 
I  dreamed  that  a  Tiger  pursued, 

And  in  fright 
I  ran  through  the  forest 

As  fast  as  I  could. 
The  Tiger  got  nearer — 

So  on  through  the  wood 
I  lengthened  my  stride 
To  steps  a  mile  wide; 


The  Flight  to  Fairyland  23 


But  faster  and  faster 

That  Tiger  Cat  came. 
He  really  was  hungry 

And  I  was  his  game ; 
So,  faster  and  faster 

I  ran  till  I  found 
I  could  jump  over  houses 

And  light  on  the  ground 
With  only  the  tiniest 

Jar  from  the  leap — 
It's  strange  how  much  lighter 

One  is  when  asleep. 
Then  I  came  to  a  cliff 

At  the  top  of  a  hill, 
But  I  never  stopped, 

I  jumped  with  a  thrill 
Of  delight  to  escape 

From  that  terrible  Cat, 

Who  thereafter  sat 
On  the  top  of  the  hill, 

And  yodeled  and  spat. 
Then  I  found  I  could  fly 

By  just  flapping  my  arms, 
And  sail  like  an  Eagle 

Away  from  alarms. 


[24] 


The  Flight  to  Fairyland  25 


And  later  that  night 

When  I  woke  up  in  bed 
I  hid  in  the  blankets 

And  covered  my  head. 
In  the  morning  I  said 

To  my  Mother,  'I  know 
Why  Birds  are  so  happy 

And  sing  as  they  go. 
I  know  so  much  more 

Of  the  dear  little  things 
Than  I  did,  and  I  know 

They're  so  proud  of  their  wings 
That  the  melodies  burst 

In  a  flood  from  their  throats, 
And  fill  all  the  heaven 

With  musical  notes. 
I'll  tell  you  a  secret — 

There's  joy  in  the  sky — 
Dear  Mother,  I  know, 

For  in  dreams  I  can  fly.' 


The  hours  passed  in  pleasant  conversation,  and  in  the 
proper  time,  which  is  in  the  rose  colored  dawn,  they 
came  to  the  Land  of  Dreams. 


26  Rainbow  Stories 


There's  a  beautiful,  wonderful 

Land  of  Dreams — 
Of  Childhood  Ideals— 

Where  everything  seems 
So  vivid  and  perfect, 

We  feel  very  sure 
The  Castles  of  Hope 

That  we  build  will  endure- 
Where  friendships  are  lasting, 

Unselfish  and  strong, 
And  not  bought  for  money, 

Nor  sold  for  a  song; 
Where  Love  doesn't  die — 

Isn't  killed  by  a  word 
That  is  spoken  in  anger; 

Where  lies  are  not  heard — 
Where  Love  is  not  balanced 

By  jewels  and  gold; 
Where  all  things  are  given 

For  Love  and  not  sold ; 
Where  only  the  welfare 

Of  others  is  sought, 
And  we  joy  in  the  giving, 

And  cherish  the  thought 
That  Love  is  perfection — 

And  all  else  is  naught — 
In  that  beautiful,  wonderful 

Land  of  Dreams. 


The  Flight  to  Fairyland  27 


They  flew  under  a  rainbow,  and  perched  in  a  Curlicue 
tree  in  the  Fairies'  Garden  of  True  Love. 

It  was  a  peaceful  spot.  No  weeds  with  thorns  or 
prickles  were  allowed  to  grow.  Only  the  flowers  of 
Good  Thoughts  and  Kind  Wishes  were  planted  there, 
and  they  were  cultivated  with  patience  and  forbearance, 
watered  with  the  tears  of  sympathy,  and  often  warmed 
by  the  sunny  smiles  of  forgiveness. 

In  that  enchanted  land  above — 
That  Land  of  Smiles  and  Friendly  Love — 
The  soul  destroying  acid,  Hate, 
Turns  honey  sweet ;  and  there  the  gate 
To  friendship's  garden  stands  ajar, 
And  in  it  thornless  roses  are. 
No  vain  regrets,  nor  dull  despair, 
Nor  torturing  grief  can  enter  there ; 
For  no  one  wants  what  is  another's, 
Nor  helps  himself  by  hurting  others. 

When  Johnnie  Bob  looked  around  the  magic  garden 
he  was  speechless  with  wonder. 

The  first  thing  he  saw  was  a  Fairy  school  teacher 
standing  on  a  sunflower  ringing  a  blubell  to  call  the 
Fairies  to  school.  Just  beyond  was  the  beginning  of  a 
rainbow  up  which  the  Fairies  were  running  because  the 
school  room  was  at  the  top.  Johnnie  Bob  jumped  down 
from  the  curlicue  tree  and  tried  to  join  them,  but  the 


28  Rainbow  Stories 


rainbow  kept  moving  away.  "Hoot,  hoot!"  called  the 
Owl.  "Come  back  at  once.  You  cannot  climb  the  rain 
bow  unless  you  wear  the  magic  sandals."  Johnnie  Bob 
hurried  back  and  was  introduced  to  the  Fairy  school 
teacher.  The  Owl  explained  that  he  was  a  good  boy, 
that  he  never  took  things  that  did  not  belong  to  him  or 
told  an  untruth,  and  that  he  was  willing  to  be  punished 
when  he  did  wrong,  and  was  generous  to  his  playmates. 
The  teacher  replied : 

"If  you  are  as  good  as  your  playmates  say 
You  may  join  the  school  for  a  single  day; 
So  put  on  these  magic  sandals  and 
Run  up  the  rainbow  as  fast  as  you  can." 

"Now,"  said  the  Owl,  "you  are  safe  in  Fairyland,  and 
I  will  fly  back  to  my  pine  tree  before  it  gets  too  light.  If 
you  don't  mind,  I  will  trouble  you  for  the  magic  wings." 

The  wings  suddenly  vanished.  After  saying  good  bye 
the  accommodating  Owl  flew  away. 

Johnnie  Bob  buckled  on  the  magic  sandals  as  the 
teacher  directed,  and  joined  the  throng  of  Fairies  who 
were  running  up  the  rainbow.  When  they  reached  the 
very  top  they  all  sat  down  on  the  edge  and  let  their  feet 
hang  over. 


The  Flight  to  Fairyland  29 


School  began  as  usual  with  a  song: 

When  the  evening  shades  are  falling 
And  the  twinkling  stars  unveil, 

Children  hear  the  Fairies  calling 
Calling  them  to  Fairydale; 

Fairydale,  that  place  in  Dreamland 

Where  the  Mother  fondly  leads  them 
When  she  reads  a  Fairy  tale. 

"Now  I  will  answer  your  questions,"  said  the  teacher, 
"by  telling  a  story.  When  I  am  telling  a  story  please  do 
not  interrupt  because  that  spoils  everything.  No  one 
expects  things  to  be  reasonable  in  Fairyland.  What  are 
the  questions  for  the  day?" 


[30] 


THE  FAIRIES  IN  THE  FLOWERS 

Said  Johnnie  Bob,  "I'd  like  to  know 
Why  it  is  that  flowers  grow 
Red  or  yellow,  blue  or  white, 
And  why  their  petals  close  at  night." 

"T   will   answer   that,"   the    Fairy   replied,   "by  telling 
JL       the  story  of  how  the  flowers  came." 
Once  upon  a  time — long  before  time — the  Fairies  lived 
in  a  coral  cave  in  the  sea.    They  were  not  very  happy  be 
cause  the  water  was  too  cold,  so,  one  day  they  climbed 
out  on  the  shore  to  warm  themselves  in  the  sun. 

They  spent  the  day  playing  among  the  grasses,  and 
swinging  in  the  cobwebs,  and  enjoyed  it  so  much  that 
they  asked  the  Queen  of  the  Fairies  if  she  would  build 
them  a  house,  and  let  them  stay  on  the  land  always. 

The  Queen  replied  that  she  would  be  pleased  to  do 
so,  and  that  she  would  build  them  many  houses  of  such 
beauty  that  Mortals  would  never  be  able  to  equal  them. 
Then  she  waved  her  magic  wand  over  the  plants,  and 
flower  buds  began  to  grow  out  of  them,  and  as  they 
opened  she  painted  them  in  marvelous  colors — red,  blue, 

[31] 


32 


Rainbow  Stories 


yellow,  in  all  the  tints  and  mixtures,  but  some  she 
allowed  to  remain  pure  white. 

Each  Fairy  selected  the  flower  and  color  she  preferred, 
and  went  in,  and  made  herself  at  home. 

Every  morning  they  opened  their  shutters  to  let  the 
warm  sunlight  in.  At  night  those  who  lived  in  the 
roses,  and  pansies,  and  many  other  kinds  left  their 
shutters  open,  because  they  delighted  in  going  out  to 
dance  in  the  moonlight.  But  the  Fairies  who  lived  in  the 
poppies  closed  their  shutters  up  tight,  right  after  supper, 
because  they  were  very,  very  sleepy  little  Fairies. 


SLEEPY  EYES 

"Teacher  dear,  can  you  devise 
A  way  to  close  a  baby's  eyes 
In  gentle  slumber  when  they  weep 
So  much  that  Father  cannot  sleep?" 


"TV/T  OTHERS  and  children  everywhere  agree  that 
IV J.       there  is  nothing  better  for  that  purpose  than 
a  lullaby  song,"  said  the  Fairy.   "I  will  tell  you  the  story 
of  Sleepy  Eyes." 

Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  little  girl  called  Sleepy 
Eyes.  After  an  unusually  exciting  day,  when  bed 
time  came,  strange  to  say,  she  was  not  sleepy  at  all. 
Her  mind  was  wide  awake  and  her  eyes  would  not  stay 
closed.  Everything  that  had  happened  to  her  during  the 
day  recurred  to  her  thoughts  time  and  time  again.  Try 
as  she  would  she  could  not  sleep. 

So  the  Mother  took  her  little  girl  in  her  arms  and 
made  herself  comfortable  in  the  big  rocking  chair.  She 
pressed  her  lips  to  the  child's  forehead  for  a  few  mo 
ments  in  silent  prayer,  and  then  began  softly : 

[33] 


34 


Rainbow  Stories 


Dear  little  baby  mine  close  your  sweet  eyes, 
Angels  are  watching  from  up  in  the  skies. 
Mother  is  guarding  you,  sleep  baby  dear, 
No  harm  shall  come  to  you,  Mother  is  near. 
Lullaby,  lullaby,  sleep,  baby  sleep. 

Sleep,  little  baby  mine,  snuggle  and  rest. 
Mother  will  sing  you  to  sleep  in  your  nest. 
Safe  in  her  loving  arms,  nothing  to  fear, 
Sleep,  little  baby  mine,  Mother  is  here. 
Lullaby,  lullaby,  sleep,  baby  sleep. 

Sleep,  little  baby  mine,  rest  your  dear  head 
Close  to  your  Mother's  heart  making  your  bed. 
Fairies  will  give  you  a  smile  for  a  tear, 
Sleep,  little  baby  mine,  Mother  is  near. 
Lullaby,  lullaby,  sleep,  baby  sleep, 
Lullaby,  lullaby,  sleep,  baby  sleep — 
Sleep,  baby  sleep. 


Sleepy  Eyes 


35 


Sleepy  Eyes  snuggled  her  cheek  against  her  Mother's 
breast.  She  was  such  a  tired  baby.  Her  eyelids  were 
too  heavy  to  be  lifted — her  hands  and  feet  too  comfortable 
to  be  moved.  Her  rose-bud  lips  parted  in  a  faint  smile. 
Her  Mother's  voice,  so  sweetly  soothing,  sounded  further 
and  further  away.  Her  eyelids  grew  heavier,  and  heavier. 
Her  feet  grew  heavier  and  heavier.  Her  arms  relaxed 
and  fell  away  from  her  Mother's  neck.  It  was  so  sweet 
to  rest.  She  was  so  drowsy  and  sleepy.  She  was  sink 
ing — sinking — sinking  in  a  downy  cushion.  She  was  so 
drowsy  and  sleepy — so  sleepy — so  sleepy — sleepy — 
asleep. 

Her  Mother  laid  little  Sleepy  Eyes  tenderly  in  her 
bed,  and  went  out  on  tiptoes. 


[36] 


HOW  THE  STARS  CAME  IN  THE  SKY 

"Please,  Fairy  teacher,  tell  me  why 
At  night  the  stars  come  in  the  sky, 
And  is  it  true  the  Fairies  keep 
The  babies  smiling  in  their  sleep?" 

"'T*  O  answer  that,"  the  Fairy  replied,  "I  must  tell  you 

A  certain  facts  about  babies  that  are  extra  special 
Fairy  secrets,  not  to  be  mentioned  to  anyone." 

Once  upon  a  time — long  before  time — the  Fairies  lived 
in  the  roses  and  poppies,  and  other  flowers,  and  ate  honey 
all  day  long. 

Some  of  them  ate  so  much  honey  that  they  grew 
bigger  and  bigger,  and  sweeter  and  sweeter  until  they 
came  into  the  world  of  mortals  as  little  babies. 

The  Fairies  who  did  not  grow  up  took  delight  in 
playing  with  their  brothers  and  sisters  who  had  become 
babies.  They  would  dance  on  their  necks,  and  wiggle 
their  toes  to  make  them  laugh  so  that  the  Gigglums 
could  not  get  them. 

Did  you  ever  hear  about  the  Gigglums?  No?  Well, 
they  were  distant  cousins  of  the  Fairies,  and  lived  next 

[37] 


38  Rainbow  Stories 


door  to  Fairyland.  They  were  jolly  little  Gnomes — round 
as  jelly  rolls — and  always  laughing.  In  fact,  they  laughed 
so  much  that  their  eyelids  grew  together.  They  had 
big  wiggly  ears,  and  wore  pillows  on  their  feet  so  the 
children  would  not  hear  them  coming. 

Nothing  amused  a  Gigglum  as  much  as  a  crying  baby. 
Whenever  a  child  began  to  cry  the  Gigglums  would  ap 
pear  one  by  one.  Where  they  came  from  no  one  knows, 
but  they  would  stand  in  a  line  and  wiggle  their  ears 
and  listen.  If  the  child  cried  again  they  would  wiggle 
their  ears,  and  trot  nearer  on  their  pillow  feet,  and 
listen.  If  the  child  cried  again  they  would  wiggle  their 
ears,  and  trot  nearer,  and  listen.  Every  time  the  child 
cried  they  would  wiggle  their  ears  and  trot  nearer, 
guided  only  by  the  sound,  because  their  eyelids  were 
grown  together.  If  they  could  find  the  crying  baby  they 
would  giggle  until  they  jiggled  like  jelly,  and  then  they 
would  toss  that  cry  baby  up  and  down — up  and  down — 
up  and  down  until  it  laughed  with  them. 

Well,  after  a  time,  the  babies  who  had  been  called  back 
up  into  heaven  wanted  the  Fairies  to  go  up  and  play 
with  them;  so,  the  Queen  of  the  Fairies  told  Mothers 
and  Fathers,  and  Aunts  and  Uncles,  and  Nurses  how 
to  take  care  of  the  babies,  and  especially,  how  to  tickle 
their  necks  and  wiggle  their  toes  and  to  make  them 
laugh  so  the  Gigglums  wouldn't  get  them;  and  then  all 
the  Fairies  flew  up  into  heaven. 

But  the  Fairies  do  not  forget  the  children  who  are 


How  the  Stars  Came  in  the  Sky          39 


on  the  earth.  Every  evening,  about  an  hour  after  sun 
set,  they  go  up  to  the  other  side  of  the  blue  curtain  that 
is  spread  over  the  sky  to  keep  the  glories  of  heaven  from 
shining  through,  and  try  to  look  down  to  the  earth.  But 
the  curtain  is  so  thick  that  they  can't  see  very  well,  so, 
they  tear  little  holes  in  the  curtain,  and  then  by  putting 
their  eyes  up  close  they  can  see  you,  and  watch  over  you 
all  night  while  those  who  love  you  and  care  for  you  in 
the  day  time  are  sleeping. 

Grown  people  call  them  stars,  but  children  know  they 
are  the  twinkling  eyes  of  Fairies  peeping  at  them  through 
the  blue  curtain  of  heaven. 


140] 


A 


BOOMAROAR  AND  THE  RAINBOW 

Said  Johnnie  Bob,  "I'd  like  to  know 
The  meaning  of  the  bright  rainbow. 
And  do  the  rain-clouds  dry  their  tears 
For  happiness  when  it  appears?" 

ND  the  Fairy  answered : 


Once  upon  a  time — long,  long  before  time — there  was 
a  Giant  called  Boomaroar.  He  was  King  of  the  Storms. 
When  he  was  angry  he  would  go  roaring  across  the  skies, 
flashing  lightning  from  his  eyes,  and  blowing  great  rain 
clouds  before  him. 

One  day  he  filled  his  buckets  and  went  booming  over 
the  land  in  a  terrible  thunder  storm.  He  dashed  the 
water  in  great  floods  upon  the  flowers,  and  tossed  them 
about  with  the  wind  of  his  breath  until  the  Fairies  who 
lived  in  the  flowers  were  nearly  drowned. 

They  called  to  the  Queen  of  the  Fairies  to  protect 
them;  so,  she  spread  a  great  arch  over  the  land  to  keep 
the  rain  from  falling  through,  and  then  she  painted  it  red, 
and  yellow  and  blue. 

When  Boomaroar  saw  it  he  said,  "It  is  a  Rainbow," 

[41] 


42 


Rainbow  Stories 


and  hurried  away  as  fast  as  he  could,  because  he  knew 
the  sun  would  soon  come  out. 


BOOMAROAR,  AND  THE  SEA  SHELLS 

"I  walk  with  Mother  on  the  shore 
And  ask  her  questions  by  the  score, 
But  though  I  ask,  she  never  tells 
Me  why  there  are  so  many  shells." 

">T^  HAT  is  a  difficult  question  even  for  a  Mother  to 

A  answer,"  the  Fairy  replied,  because  it  is  a 
special  and  particular  secret  which  only  the  Fairies  know. 
I  will  tell  you  some  of  the  story,  but  I  cannot  tell  it  all 
because  it  is  such  a  very  special  secret." 

Once  upon  a  time- — long  time  before  time — Booma- 
roar,  King  of  the  Storms,  lived  far  out  in  the  ocean 
where  he  splashed  around  playing  with  the  whales. 

He  was  a  gruff  and  rude  sort  of  a  giant.  He  did  not 
like  the  Queen  of  the  Fairies  very  well,  because  she 
made  the  rainbow.  One  spring  day,  while  she  was 
sleeping  in  a  meadow,  he  tried  to  cover  her  up  with 
water. 

He  slapped  the  ocean  with  his  big  hands,  spattering  the 
water  into  the  sky,  so  that  it  fell  in  showers  for  days  and 
days.  Then  he  bounced  up  and  down  in  the  ocean  to 


[43] 


44  Rainbow  Stories 


make  the  waves  roll  over  the  land,  but  the  Queen  of  the 
Fairies  heard  the  floods  coming,  and  flying  into  the 
mountains,  stood  on  her  tiptoes  on  the  highest  peak. 

The  rains  fell  harder  and  harder,  and  the  waves  dashed 
higher  and  higher.  Boomaroar  was  so  amused  that  the 
sound  of  his  rumbling  rolls  of  thundering  laughter  was 
heard  for  miles  and  miles. 

The  Queen  had  to  do  something  to  protect  herself  and 
the  little  Fairies  from  such  a  bad  giant,  so  she  picked  an 
enormous  basketful  of  shells  out  of  the  rocks,  and  poured 
them  over  the  head  of  Boomaroar  until  he  was  almost 
covered  up  in  the  ocean. 

He  was  so  surprised  that  he  hurried  back  to  his 
home,  and  never  annoyed  the  Fairies  again. 

Then  the  Queen  spread  sand  along  the  seashore  to 
keep  the  salt  water  in  the  ocean,  and  lying  down,  finished 
her  nap,  but  she  never  would  tell  in  what  kind  of  rock 
sea  shells  are  found.  That  is  for  children  to  find  out. 


THE  MUSIC  IN  THE  SEA  SHELLS 

"I  held  a  sea  shell  to  my  ear, 

And  heard  the  music,  sweet  and  dear. 

Why  is  there  music  in  a  shell? 

I'd  like  to  know,  if  you  will  tell." 

"<npHERE  is  music  in  everything,  dear  child,  if  we 

JL  are  friendly,  and  fine  enough  to  hear  it,"  the 
Fairy  replied,  and  then  continued: 

Once  upon  a  time,  a  long  time  ago,  long  before  time, 
on  the  white  sandy  beach  of  an  ever-so-far-away  island 
the  Fairies  came  out  of  the  briny,  wavy  ocean  to  dance 
in  the  moonlight. 

The  Fairies  danced  on  the  wet  sand,  while  the  Fid 
dling  Crabs  fiddled,  and  the  Drum  Fish  beat  the  drums, 
and  the  Moon  looked  down  with  a  broad  smile  on  her 
face,  and  so,  that  made  everything  all  right  for  a  long 
time. 

But  directly,  after  a  long  time,  the  Fairies  said  they 
were  tired  of  dancing  and  wanted  to  sing,  and  the 
Fiddling  Crabs  said  they  were  tired  of  fiddling  and 
wanted  to  dance,  and  the  Drum  Fish  said  they  were 


[45] 


46  Rainbow  Stories 


tired  of  drumming  and  wanted  to  go  home,  and  the 
Moon  did  not  say  anything,  but  went  behind  a  cloud 
without  even  excusing  herself.  Everybody  stopped 
doing  what  everybody  was  doing  except  the  Moon,  and 
she  doesn't  count,  because  she  went  behind  a  cloud  with 
out  even  excusing  herself,  and  wasn't  playing  anyway, 
and  so,  that  made  everything  all  wrong. 

Well,  about  that  time,  or  perhaps  a  little  later,  a  very 
wise  Lobster  came  strolling  along  the  beach,  stroking 
his  round  and  very  long  mustache,  like  this.  He  saw 
at  once  that  everybody  had  stopped  doing  whatever 
they  had  been  doing,  and  that  everything  was  as  wrong 
as  it  could  be,  and  that  there  was  an  excellent  oppor 
tunity  for  him  to  use  some  of  his  very  best  wisdom ; 
so  he  folded  his  tail  carefully  and  sat  down  upon  it, 
cleared  his  throat  and  said,  "Good  evening." 

Thereupon  and  immediately  everyone  stopped  doing 
nothing  very  suddenly,  and  appealed,  all  together,  to 
the  very  wise  Lobster. 

The  Fairies  said  they  were  tired  of  dancing  and 
wanted  to  sing,  and  the  Fiddling  Crabs  said  they  were 
tired  of  fiddling  and  wanted  to  dance,  and  the  Drum 
Fish  said  they  were  tired  of  drumming  and  wanted  to 
go  home,  and  the  Moon  didn't  say  anything  at  all, 
because  she  had  gone  behind  a  cloud  without  even 
excusing  herself,  and  wasn't  playing  anyway. 

The  very  wise  Lobster  folded  and  unfolded  his  legs 
nervously  several  times,  and  stroked  his  round  and 


[47] 


48  Rainbow  Stories 


very  long  mustache.  Then  his  little  black  eyes  twinkled 
like  new  shoe  buttons,  and  he  said,  with  great  wisdom: 
"Let  the  Fairies  sing  if  they  want  to,  and  the  Crabs 
dance  if  they  want  to,  and  the  Drum  Fish  go  home 
if  they  want  to,  and  the  Moon  can  do  as  she  pleases, 
because  she  hasn't  said  what  she  wants  to  do,  and  she 
went  behind  a  cloud  without  even  excusing  herself,  and 
she  isn't  playing  anyway;  and  so,  that  will  make  every 
thing  all  right  again." 

Everyone  seemed  surprised  that  they  had  not  thought 
of  that  before,  and  agreed  that  it  was  a  good  idea, 
except  the  Moon,  and  she  didn't  say  anything,  because 
she  had  gone  behind  a  cloud  without  even  excusing 
herself,  and  wasn't  playing,  anyway. 

So  the  Drum  Fish  started  swimming  for  home 
through  the  briny,  wavy  ocean,  wiggling  their  tails 
as  fast  as  they  couW,  and  never  looking  back  at  all. 
The  Fairies  picked  up  sea  shells,  which  they  found 
on  the  shore,  and  began  singing  into  them,  because  it 
made  their  voices  louder;  and  the  Crabs  began  to 
waltz  around,  and  around,  and  around;  and,  after  a 
time,  the  Moon  came  out  from  behind  the  cloud  where 
she  had  gone  without  even  excusing  herself,  and  that 
made  everything  all  right  again,  just  as  it  was  in  the 
first  place. 

Then  the  Sun  came  up  very  suddenly  out  of  the 
briny,  wavy  ocean,  and  the  Fairies  dropped  the  sea 
shells,  with  their  voices  still  echoing  in  them,  and  dashed 


The  Music  in  the  Sea  Shells  49 


into  the  breakers,  swimming  for  home  so  swiftly  that 
some  of  them  lost  their  white  caps  of  sea  foam. 

The  very  wise  Lobster  continued  his  stroll  along  the 
beach,  and  everything  was  all  right  for  everybody,  ex 
cept  for  the  Crabs,  who  were  so  dizzy  from  waltzing 
around,  and  around,  and  around,  that  when  they  started 
for  home  they  ran  sideways,  and  have  been  doing  so 
ever  since. 

The  Fairies'  white  caps  of  sea  foam  may  still  be 
seen  floating  on  the  waves  when  the  wind  is  blowing; 
and  if  you  hold  a  sea  shell  to  your  ear,  and  there  is 
music  in  it,  you  may  be  sure  it  is  the  identical  shell 
that  one  of  the  Fairies  was  singing  into  when  the  Sun 
came  up  so  suddenly  out  of  the  briny,  wavy  ocean  on 
the  white  sandy  beach  of  the  ever-so-far-away  island  in 
the  long,  long  ago. 


[50] 


THE  FAIRY  BLACKBIRD 

"Please  teacher,  will  you  kindly  tell 
About  the  strange  thing  that  befell 
The  little  boy  who  threw  a  stone, 
And  wouldn't  let  the  birds  alone." 

"'"¥"«  HAT  is  a  story  that  every  boy  should  know,"  the 

JL  Fairy  remarked,  "and  I  hope  Johnnie  Bob  will 
pay  special  attention." 

Once  upon  a  time — a  long  time  before  time — there 
was  a  little  boy  who  threw  stones  at  birds.  He  was  not 
a  really  bad  boy,  but  he  did  not  understand  birds. 

One  day  when  he  was  playing  Indian,  he  saw  a  black 
bird  sitting  in  a  tree  singing  the  only  song  it  knew,  and 
trying  to  make  people  cheer  up.  At  least,  it  looked  like 
a  blackbird,  but  it  was  really  a  Fairy  policeman  wearing 
a  black  feather  coat  with  red  stripes  on  the  shoulders. 

The  boy  picked  up  a  stone  and  threw  it,  not  thinking 
it  was  a  cruel  sport.  The  Fairy  flew  away  to  Fairyland, 
and  told  the  other  Fairies  what  the  boy  had  done.  They 
decided  to  teach  him  to  be  more  kind  to  the  birds.  They 
put  on  black  feather  coats,  and  led  by  the  Fairy  police 
man,  flew  down  to  the  earth.  Circling  about  over  the 
boy's  head  they  worked  their  charm  by  singing: 

[51] 


52  Rainbow  Stories 


"We  sing  and  we  chatter 

The  magical  words 
To  punish  the  bad  boy 

Who  bothers  the  birds. 
Come,  Queen  of  the  Fairies, 

And  lend  us  your  charms ; 
Come,  King  of  the  Fishes, 

And  take  off  his  arms ! 
Put  scales  on  his  stomach, 

And  also  we  wish 
To  smooth  out  his  features 

To  look  like  a  fish. 
When  half  a  red  snapper, 

And  half  just  a  boy, 
He  won't  hurt  the  blackbirds, 

Nor  Fairies  annoy; 
So,  take  off  his  eyebrows, 

His  ears,  and  his  chin — 
And  make  him  confess 

When  his  Father  comes  in." 

He  beard  them  chattering,  but,  thinking  it  was  only 
another  flock  of  birds,  he  was  stooping  to  pick  up  a  stone 
when  a  strange  thing  happened  to  him. 

His  Mother,  looking  out  of  the  window,  saw  his  face 
when  it  first  began  to  change.  It  grew  longer  and  longer. 
His  eyes  grew  rounder  and  rounder.  His  mouth  grew 
wider  and  wider,  and  kept  opening  and  closing  as  if  he 


The  Fairy  Blackbird  53 


were  trying  to  say  Mamma!  Mamma!  but  not  a  sound 
could  he  make.  She  called  him  into  the  house.  When 
he  saw  his  face  in  the  mirror  he  was  so  ashamed  that  he 
went  into  a  corner  and  stood  with  his  face  to  the  wall 
until  his  Father  came  home. 

Then  he  told  his  Father  all  about  it,  and  promised 
not  to  harm  the  birds  any  more.  As  soon  as  he  had  said 
that  the  charm  was  lost,  and  he  changed  back  to  a  boy 
again  just  as  he  was  before,  excepting,  that  forever  after, 
he  was  a  good  friend  to  the  birds. 

He  learned  that  happiness  soon  turns  to  sorrow  if 
obtained  through  causing  anguish  to  others. 


154] 


HOW  THE  RABBIT  LOST  HIS  TAIL 

"I  wonder  why  the  Rabbits  fail 
To  grow  a  proper  length  of  tail. 
Was  it  lost,  or  left  about 
To  sit  upon,  and  so  worn  out?" 

HAT  is  a  really  sad  story,"  the  Fairy  remarked, 
"especially  for  the  Rabbit.  This  is  the  way  it 
happened" : 

Once  upon  a  time —  a  long  time  before  time — there 
was  a  Mrs.  Rabbit  who  lived  in  a  hollow  stump.  She 
earned  her  living  by  doing  the  washing  for  the  Hedge 
hog  family.  No  one  else  would  do  it  because  they  used 
so  many  pins  in  their  clothes  instead  of  buttons.  She 
was  a  patient  little  Mother. 

One  morning  before  she  went  to  work  she  told  her 
little  boy  Jack  that  he  was  not  to  go  out  of  the  house 
until  she  returned.  She  left  him  a  carrot,  which  as 
everyone  knows,  is  the  best  kind  of  a  lunch  for  a  Rabbit. 

Well,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  or,  possibly  a 
quarter  past  four,  Jack,  being  lonesome,  ventured  into 
the  front  yard,  thinking  his  Mother  would  never  know 

156] 


56 


Rainbow  Stories 


anything  about  it.  After  playing  there  for  some  time, 
and  finding  it  so  pleasant  outside,  he  hopped  cautiously 
into  the  road.  No  one  was  to  be  seen  in  either  direction. 
He  went  a  little  further  and  lifted  up  his  ears,  but  could 
hear  nothing  but  the  chirp  of  the  crickets,  and  the  songs 
of  the  birds.  Then  he  hopped  down  the  road  without 
fear. 

After  a  time  he  came  to  a  grove,  and  in  the  shade  of 
a  big  tree  he  found  a  cloth  spread  on  the  grass.  On  it 
were  all  sorts  of  good  things  to  eat. 


How  the  Rabbit  Lost  His  Tail 


57 


Jack's  eyes  brightened,  and  his  nose  wiggled  in  antici 
pation.  He  waved  his  tail  in  delight.  I  should  have 
mentioned  before  that  he  was  very  proud  of  his  long 
fluffy  tail,  and  brushed  it  carefully  every  night. 

Jack  sat  down  before  a  plate,  and  nibbled  at  an  ear  of 
corn.  He  did  not  care  much  for  that.  He  had  corn  at 
home.  At  the  next  plate  he  ate  a  sandwich.  At  the  next 
plate  he  ate  a  big  slice  of  chocolate  cake ;  and  then,  I  am 
sorry  to  say — he  ate  up  every  bit  of  the  vanilla  ice  cream. 

He  wiped  his  lips  with  a  napkin,  rubbed  his  round 
tummy,  and  felt  so  satisfied  and  drowsy  that  he  hopped 
into  the  grass  and  fell  asleep. 


58  Rainbow  Stories 


When  the  people  came  back  from  hunting,  and  saw 
what  had  happened,  they  groaned  in  dismay. 

"O —  o —  o — !    Who  has  been  eating  our  luncheon?" 

This  awakened  Jack,  but  he  was  so  soggy  with  choco 
late  cake,  and  so  oozy  with  vanilla  ice  cream,  that  he 
only  lazily  lifted  one  ear.  When  he  heard  their  angry 
words  he  opened  his  eyes,  and  seeing  strange  people,  he 
realized  at  once  that  his  Mother  was  right;  so,  he  jumped 
up  and  bounded  for  home. 

One  of  the  hunters  saw  him,  and  raised  his  gun. 

Jack  jumped  sideways  as  quickly  as  he  could,  as 
his  Mother  had  taught  him  to  do  under  such  circum 
stances,  but  his  long,  fluffy  tail  was  shot  right  off.  He 
did  not  stop  to  pick  it  up,  but  dashed  home  to  his  Mother 
who  wrapped  up  the  stump  in  corn  silk. 

If,  someday,  you  should  happen  to  see  a  Rabbit  with 
a  short  tail — one  just  long  enough  to  wiggle — you  will 
know  it  is  probably  the  same  Rabbit  who  ran  away  to 
play  in  the  road. 


THE  DISCONTENTED  ELEPHANT 

"Although  I  try,  I  really  can't 
Comprehend  the  Elephant. 
Will  you  tell  me  why  he  grows 
So  short  of  legs  and  long  of  nose?" 


have  been  many  explanations  and  apolo- 
JL  gies  for  the  elephant,"  remarked  the  Fairy. 
"He  knows  he  is  not  gracefully  built  and  it  causes 
him  to  appear  embarrassed  and  self-conscious. 

Once  upon  a  time,  a  long  time  ago,  Elephants  were  as 
handsome  and  graceful  as  any  other  animal.  They  had 
nice  kind  faces  like  Pigs,  slender  bodies,  and  long  thin 
legs  like  Nanny  Goats. 

It  was  a  pretty  sight  in  those  old  days  to  see  the  Ele 
phants  dancing  in  the  meadows,  or  leaping  from  crag  to 
crag  in  search  of  the  delicatessens  on  which  they  fed. 

Well,  among  them  was  one  petulant  baby  elephant  who 
was  extremely  discontented.  Nothing  pleased  him.  He 
always  wanted  something  else.  He  couldn't  make  up  his 
mind  what  it  was,  but  he  was  sure  it  was  something 
else.  In  fact  he  couldn't  make  up  his  mind  on  anything, 
or  at  least,  it  wouldn't  stay  made  up. 

[59] 


60  Rainbow  Stories 


He  was  constantly  changing  his  mind.  If  he  started 
forward  he  would  change  his  mind  and  step  backward. 
He  was  so  restless  that  his  Mother  suspected  adenoids. 

He  had  no  strength  of  character,  and  his  feet  hurt. 

His  Father  warned  him  that  if  he  did  not  stop  moving 
forward  and  backward,  he  would  have  to  give  him  an 
extra  head  so  he  could  see  where  he  was  going. 

However,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  this  baby  Elephant  paid  no 
attention  to  advice;  so,  one  day  after  he  had  tipped  over 
the  piano  by  backing  into  it,  his  Father  took  off  his  tail 
and  put  a  head  in  its  place. 

It  is  really  not  wise  to  interfere  so  much  with  Nature, 
and  in  this  case  it  nearly  caused  a  sad  tragedy,  for  the 
baby  Elephant  started  forward  from  each  end  at  the 
same  time  and  pulled  his  body  out  like  a  measuring 
worm.  His  Father  was  so  afraid  he  would  pull  himself 
apart,  that  he  hastily  took  off  the  extra  head  and  put 
back  the  tail.  Then  he  squeezed  him  up  together  as 
tightly  as  he  could — in  fact,  he  rather  overdid  the  matter, 
for  the  Elephant  has  appeared  to  be  too  short  and  thick 
ever  since. 

This  baby  Elephant  had  another  unpleasant  habit — 
that  of  lifting  up  one  foot  and  then  the  other,  and 
swinging  from  side  to  side.  This,  of  course,  made  a  lot 
of  noise,  for  up  to  that  time  Elephants  had  long,  graceful 
legs  with  hoofs  on  their  feet  like  horses. 

The  noise  annoyed  the  oysters  who  lived  in  the  flat 
below  so  much  that  they  turned  over  and  over  in  their 


"«i"*~ - — j 

GEJLl^I1  *Wf?,~~^?  **%*'rX/ 


[61] 


62  Rainbow  Stories 


beds.  The  Sword  Fish  became  so  vexed,  because  he 
could  not  sleep  in  the  day  time,  that  he  went  up  and  sawed 
the  baby  Elephant's  feet  right  off  with  his  nose. 

Ever  since  then  Elephants  have  had  to  go  around  walk 
ing  on  stumpy  legs  with  pads  on  the  bottoms  instead  of 
feet,  but  they  don't  make  any  noise  at  all. 

I  purposely  have  avoided  mentioning  the  Elephant's 
nose,  because  he  is  so  sensitive  about  it.  It  was  not 
originally  such  a  long  nose — a  little  longer,  perhaps,  than 
the  Camel's,  but  not  really  noticeable. 

Curiosity  was  what  made  it  grow,  especially  curiosity 
about  where  his  Mother  kept  the  peanuts,  cookies 
doughnuts  and  jam.  I  suppose  there  never  was  a  child 
who  was  as  curious  about  such  matters  as  this  baby 
Elephant — which  after  all  is  very  fortunate,  indeed,  for 
us. 


TOM,  THE  PRINCE  COURAGEOUS. 

''Please  teacher,  it's  a  long  time  since 
You  told  a  story  of  a  Prince 

Who  fought  the  Giants  with  success 
And  rescued  Maidens  in  distress." 


"vrERY  well,"  replied  the  teacher,  "I  will  tell  you 

\  about  the  adventures  of  Tom,  the  boy  who  was 
not  afraid." 

Once  upon  a  time,  a  long  time  ago,  in  a  vine-covered 
cottage,  in  the  middle  of  a  meadow,  in  a  far-away  coun 
try  lived  an  old  man  and  his  son  Tom. 

They  were  employed  by  a  mysterious  Giant,  who 
lived  in  a  mysterious  castle  on  a  mysterious  hill  nearby. 
Every  morning  at  sunrise  this  mysterious  Giant  ap 
peared  on  the  wall  of  his  castle  to  see  if  his  fields  were 
being  properly  cultivated,  but  no  one  was  able  to  see  his 
face  because  he  always  wore  a  long  black  gown  and  a 
black  mask. 

Tom  had  helped  his  father  from  childhood,  but  on  the 
very  day  when  he  was  twenty-one,  as  they  were  work- 

[63] 


64  Rainbow  Stories 


ing  in  the  fields,  he  asked  his  father  to  tell  him  about  the 
mysterious  Giant. 

"Hush,"  said  the  old  man,  looking  over  his  shoulder 
in  a  frightened  way.  "You  must  not  ask  such  a  ques 
tion.  I  only  know  he  is  a  great  Magician,  and  that  our 
orders  and  our  pay  are  brought  by  an  ugly  black  dwarf, 
and  that  those  who  have  ventured  into  the  castle  seek 
ing  to  learn  its  secrets  have  never  returned." 

"Then  they  are  held  as  prisoners,"  Tom  replied. 
"Perhaps  I  can  rescue  them.  Tomorrow  I  will  enter 
the  castle  and  face  the  Giant  and  find  out  what  he  has 
done  with  our  neighbors." 

"No,  no,  you  must  not.  We  have  been  warned  never 
to  pass  through  the  castle  door.  You  must  not,  you 
dare  not  go." 

Tom  made  no  reply,  but  determined  he  would  learn 
for  himself  the  secret  of  the  castle.  The  next  morning, 
before  sunrise,  he  walked  up  the  shadowy  path  under  the 
drooping  willows  to  the  castle  door,  and  finding  it  wide 
open,  walked  boldly  in.  He  walked  through  long  gloomy 
corridors.  The  rough  stone  walls  were  dripping  with 
moisture,  and  spotted  with  mould.  Frogs  croaked  from 
their  hiding  places  in  the  crannies  of  the  rocks.  Rats 
scampered  ahead  of  him  and  bats  flew  about  his  head. 
Owls  blinked  at  him  from  the  niches  in  the  walls,  and 
through  the  iron  grated  openings  came  sound  of  clank 
ing  chains,  yet  Tom  walked  on,  and  at  length  came  to 


Tom,  The  Prince  Courageous  65 


a  lofty  room  whose  walls  were  covered  with  pure  silver 
between  columns  of  the  blackest  marble. 

At  the  end  of  the  room  hung  a  life  size  portrait  of 
a  beautiful  girl.  Tom  noticed  that  the  hair  on  one  side 
of  her  head  was  black  as  jet,  while  on  the  other  side 
it  was  as  white  as  snow.  Over  the  portrait  was  the 
inscription : 

"WHO  IS  BRAVE  ENOUGH  TO  RESCUE  ME?" 

"How  very  strange,"  thought  Tom  as  he  contem 
plated  the  picture,  trying  to  decide  whether  the  white 
or  the  black  hair  was  the  more  becoming  to  the  lovely 
face. 

He  was  aroused  from  his  deep  thought  by  the  blow 
of  a  heavy  hand  upon  his  shoulder.  The  Giant  in  the 
black  gown  and  mask  stood  beside  him. 

"How  dare  you  enter  this  castle?"  he  demanded  in  a 
rumbling  voice. 

"I  am  looking  for  the  Lord  of  the  castle,"  Tom  replied. 

"Have  you  not  been  warned  never  to  pass  through 
my  door?" 

"Yes,  but  I  am  here,  I  have  come  to  rescue  those 
you  have  imprisoned.  Who  is  the  lady  of  the  picture?" 

"Ugh,  I  was  waiting  for  that!  For  your  imper 
tinence  you  shall  be  chained  in  a  dungeon.  The  girl  re 
fuses  to  be  my  wife.  She  has  a  white  and  a  black  na 
ture.  One  side  of  her  heart  is  warm,  the  other  side 


66  Rainbow  Stories 


cold.  Monday  she  is  good,  Tuesday,  bad;  Wednesday 
she  is  good,  Thursday,  bad,  and  so  on  through  the 
weeks.  Today  she  is  bad  and  no  one  can  see  her." 

"But  I  must  see  her." 

"Ugh,  I  was  waiting  for  that.  Now  out  come  your 
finger  nails,"  and  raising  his  voice  he  roared,  "Bring 
me  the  pinchers." 

Dwarfs  came  clattering  over  the  marble  floor  drag 
ging  great  pinchers  and  rattling  chains. 

"Still  I  shall  rescue  the  lady,"  Tom  persisted. 

"Ugh,  I  was  waiting  for  that,"  the  Giant  growled, 
"Now  your  fingers  shall  be  burned  off.  Bring  me  the 
fire  pots." 

More  dwarfs  came  in  dragging  a  kettle  of  glowing 
coals. 

"I  must  touch  the  picture  before  losing  my  fingers," 
said  Tom,  moving  toward  the  portrait. 

"Ugh,  I  was  waiting  for  that,"  the  Giant  groaned, 
putting  his  hands  to  his  head  as  if  in  pain.  "Saw  off 
his  legs,"  he  shouted.  More  dwarfs  came  in  dragging 
a  huge  saw. 

"My  arms  are  strong,"  Tom  replied,  "and  I  will 
fight  for  the  lady." 

"Ugh,  I  was  waiting  for  that,"  the  Giant  roared,  "now 
off  comes  your  arms." 

"I  shall  save  the  lady,"  Tom  replied  defiantly,  "then 
kill  me  if  you  can.  I  will  do  right  and  fear  nothing." 


Tom,  The  Prince  Courageous  67 


When  the  last  words  were  uttered  the  mask  and 
cloak  of  the  Giant  fell  to  the  floor,  and  out  of  the  folds 
stepped  a  great  green  Parrot. 

"Now  see  what  you  have  done,  see  what  you  have 
done!"  shrilled  the  Parrot,  ruffling  his  feathers.  "See 
what  you  have  done  with  your  magic  words,  'Do  right 
and  fear  nothing.'  Now  I  am  your  slave."  The 
Dwarfs  suddenly  changed  into  mice  and  scurried  away 
down  the  dark  hall,  squeaking  in  terror. 

Tom  advanced  and  kissed  the  hand  of  the  portrait. 
Instantly  the  portrait  became  a  living  maiden.  Her 
eyes  smiled  upon  him  and  her  lips  moved.  "Help  me 
down,"  she  whispered.  Tom  lifted  her  from  the  frame, 
and  she  stood  beside  him. 

"At  last  one  has  come  who  is  brave  enough  to  rescue 
me,"  she  said.  "Many  have  attempted  it,  but  they  all 
have  weakened  with  fear  at  the  second  threat  of  burn 
ing.  The  Giant  Magician  has  changed  them  to  some 
thing  else.  Your  courage  has  saved  me.  Now  I  beg 
you  to  search  for  my  sister  and  bring  her  to  me." 

Tom  promised  to  obey  her  command,  and  escorted 
her  to  a  throne  of  black  and  white  satin  to  await  his 
return. 

Again  Tom  entered  the  dismal  corridor,  and  after 
searching  several  rooms  which  he  found  quite  vacant,  he 
at  last  came  to  a  gorgeous  room,  the  walls  of  which  were 
encrusted  with  red  coral  and  sparkling  blue  sapphires. 


68  Rainbow  Stories 


At  the  far  end  of  the  room,  on  an  elevated  platform, 
stood  a  white  marble  statue  of  a  beautiful  maiden,  but 
curiously  enough,  her  eyes  were  as  red  as  the  corals, 
and  her  hair  as  blue  as  the  sapphires.  While  Tom  was 
lost  in  admiration  of  the  beautiful  features  and  wonder 
ing  what  could  be  the  reason  for  the  strange  color  com 
bination,  a  heavy  hand  was  laid  roughly  on  his  shoulder 
and  he  heard  a  deep  voice  in  level  tone,  "I  was  waiting 
for  you." 

Tom  turned  around  and  faced  a  Giant,  who  was 
wearing  a  long  white  rubber  gown  and  a  pink  mask, 
and  carrying  on  his  shoulder  a  great  meat  cleaver. 

"I  was  waiting  for  you,"  the  Giant  repeated,  taking 
a  fresh  grip  on  Tom's  shoulder. 

"Why  were  you  waiting  for  me?"  Tom  inquired. 

"Because  I  have  run  out  of  cattle,  and  I  need  some 
one  to  kill." 

"Not  me,  I  hope." 

"Yes,  you,  if  you  ask  the  question  that  is  in  your 
mind." 

Tom  paid  no  attention  to  the  warning,  but  asked 
boldly,  "Why  are  the  eyes  of  the  statue  red,  and  why  is 
the  hair  blue  ?" 

"Ugh,  I  was  waiting  for  that.  Now  you  shall  die," 
the  Giant  snarled  between  his  clenched  teeth  as  he 
raised  his  cleaver. 

"If  you  are  going  to  kill  me  you  may   as  well  be 


Tom,  The  Prince  Courageous  69 


polite  about  it  and  answer  a  civil  question,"  Tom  sug 
gested. 

"Well,  that  sounds  reasonable,"  the  white  rubber 
Giant  replied,  laying  down  his  cleaver.  "Since  it  is  all 
agreed  that  you  are  going  to  die  anyway,  we  may  as  well 
be  polite  to  each  other.  You  see  I  am  the  son  of  the 
Black  Giant,  and  I  am  just  learning  the  Magician  busi 
ness.  There  are  some  things  I  cannot  understand  yet. 
Perhaps  you  can  help  me.  For  one  thing,  I  can't  com 
prehend  why  the  young  lady  refused  to  marry  me. 
She  got  so  melancholy  over  the  idea  that  her  hair  chang 
ed  from  red  to  blue,  and  she  wept  so  much  that  her 
eyes  changed  from  blue  to  red,  and  that  made  Father 
so  angry  that  he  changed  her  into  a  marble  statue. 
Now  you  know  the  secret.  Is  it  all  right  to  kill  you 
now?" 

"Just  a  minute,"  said  Tom,  holding  up  his  right  fore 
finger,  "is  the  statue  the  sister  of  the  portrait?" 

"Now  how  can  a  statue  be  a  sister  to  a  portrait?"  the 
Giant  argued,  leaning  on  his  cleaver.  "I  am  only  a 
young  Giant  and  I  never  went  to  school  a  day  in  my 
life,  but  I  believe  there  is  something  wrong  with  your 
grammar,  or  logic,  or  arithmetic  or  something,  and  be 
sides  you  are  too  curious  for  one  who  is  going  to  be  kill 
ed  anyway.  You  know  curiosity  killed  a  cow." 

"You  mean  a  Cat,"  Tom  interrupted. 

"It  was  a  Cow,"  the  Giant  insisted. 


70  Rainbow  Stories 


"It  was  a  Cat." 

"It  was  a  Cow." 

"If  that  is  a  joke,  laugh  at  it,"  said  Tom  as  he  poked 
his  finger  between  the  Giant's  ribs. 

"Stop.  Don't  do  that,"  the  Giant  begged,  "or  you 
will  puncture  me." 

"Plop!"  went  the  rubber  gown.  As  the  air  escaped 
the  rubber  bag  collapsed  on  the  floor,  and  out  of  the 
gown  hopped  a  white  rabbit  with  pink  eyes. 

"Now  you  have  spoiled  everything,"  blubbered  the 
Rabbit,  through  his  cleft  palate  and  hare  lip.  "You  have 
punctured  my  air  bag  and  ruined  my  figure.  Now  I  am 
afraid  of  you  and  I  am  going  to  run  away."  In  three 
leaps  the  Rabbit  bounded  out  of  the  room. 

Tom  advanced  and  touched  the  hand  of  the  statue, 
whereupon  it  moved  its  feet,  stretched  its  arms  and 
yawned,  "I'm  so  glad  that's  over.  I've  been  in  that 
trying  position  for  years.  Please  help  me  off  this  plat 
form  so  I  can  run  around  and  stretch  my  legs.  You 
are  brave  and  you  have  saved  me.  My  lover  came  to 
rescue  me  but  he  begged  for  his  life  and  the  White 
Giant  turned  him  into  a  Rat,  and  ever  since  he  has  been 
running  around  the  castle  gnawing  holes  in  the  beams 
until  the  place  is  nearly  ready  to  fall  in.  Try  to  change 
him  back  to  a  man." 

A  Rat  who  had  been  watching  from  a  dark  corner 
came  timidly  forward  and  looked  pleadingly  at  Tom. 


Tom,  The  Prince  Courageous  71 


"So,  you  are  the  Rat,"  said  Tom.  "Well,  the  Giants 
of  Fear  are  dead.  Say  the  magic  words,  'I  will  do 
right  and  fear  nothing,"  and  you  will  become  a  Man 
again." 

The  Rat  squeaked  the  words  and  instantly  became  a 
handsome  young  Prince  kneeling  at  the  feet  of  the 
Maiden,  imploring  her  forgiveness.  The  Maiden 
placed  her  hand  upon  his  head  caressingly,  and  as  a 
smile  of  happiness  beamed  upon  her  face,  her  eyes 
changed  from  red  to  sapphire  blue,  and  her  hair  changed 
from  blue  to  auburn.  Then  they  went  to  the  black  and 
white  room  where  the  lady  of  the  portrait  was  waiting 
for  them.  Tom  noticed  with  amazement  that  her  hair 
had  become  entirely  black. 

"Where  are  those  who  were  brave  enough  to  enter 
the  castle  but  weakened  before  the  Giants  of  Fear?" 
asked  Tom.  "Wherever  you  are  you  may  change  back 
to  men  if  you  will  say  the  magic  words,  "I  will  do  right 
and  fear  nothing." 

There  was  a  murmuring  sound  all  through  the  dark 
corridors  as  the  Owls  and  Frogs  and  the  Bats  and  the 
Rats  became  Men  again  and  gathered  in  the  black  and 
white  room.  Then  they  all  went  out  of  the  castle  to 
gether  and  locked  the  door  forever. 

"Now,"  said  the  sisters  to  Tom  and  the  young  Prince, 
"you  will  take  us  to  our  home."  They  approached  a 
great  castle  and  Tom  was  surprised  to  find  that  it  was 


72  Rainbow  Stories 


the  Palace  of  the  King.  The  Court  was  in  deep  mourn 
ing  for  the  loss  of  the  two  Princesses  and,  of  course, 
there  was  great  rejoicing  at  their  safe  return.  The 
King  was  so  grateful  to  the  rescuer  of  his  daughters 
that  on  that  very  day  he  declared  that  Tom  should  be 
given  castles  and  lands,  and  be  thereafter  known  as 
Tom,  The  Prince  Courageous,  and  on  that  very  even 
ing  there  was  a  double  wedding  in  the  Palace  when 
with  great  pomp  the  Princess  of  the  Statue  was  mar 
ried  to  Prince  Timid,  and  the  Princess  of  the  Portrait 
was  married  to  Tom,  The  Prince  Courageous,  and  they 
lived  their  long  lives  happily.  The  King  ordered  to  be 
emblazoned  upon  the  shield  of  Prince  Courageous  the 
magic  words  "I  will  do  right  and  fear  nothing,"  and  all 
who  are  descendents  of  The  Prince  Courageous  are  en 
titled  to  inscribe  that  motto  on  their  shields,  and  to  use 
those  magic  words  whenever  confronted  by  the  Giants 
of  Fear. 


THE  LITTLE  BLACKMAN  OF  WINKIELAND. 

"You  know  adventures,  strange  and  wild, 
Are  gently  soothing  to  a  child; 
So,  Teacher  will  you  tell  to  me 
A  thrilling  tale  of  mystery?" 

"T  T  will  be  a  pleasure,"  the  Teacher  replied,  and  be- 

A    gan: 

"Once  upon  a  time,  a  long  time  ago,  there  was  a 
little  Blackman  named  Ebony  who  lived  in  Winkieland, 
a  sleepy  country  in  the  very  center  of  darkest  Africa. 
You  cannot  find  Winkieland  on  the  map  because  the 
line  of  the  equator  hides  it,  and  besides,  it  is  not  dis 
covered  yet,  being  known  only  to  the  wisest  Magicians. 

This  little  Blackman  was  very  fond  of  gingerbread, 
and  he  ate  so  much  of  it  that  he  grew  very  fat — so 
fat  that  he  was  always  exactly  three  feet  high,  no  mat 
ter  whether  he  was  standing  up  or  lying  down.  His 
friends  called  him  Eb. 

One  day  he  looked  all  through  his  hut  but  not  another 
piece  of  gingerbread  could  he  find.  His  Mother  said 


[73] 


74  Rainbow  Stories 


a  spell  had  been  cast  on  their  garden  and  the  ginger 
bread  trees  were  moulting. 

'Ah  thinks/  said  the  little  Blackman,  'this  heah  will 
be  a  good  time  for  me  to  go  out  and  hunt  fo'  adventure, 
and  when  Ah've  found  ma  fo'tune  Ah  kin  buy  all  the 
gingerbread  we  wants.' 

His  Mother  consulted  her  dream  book  and,  finding 
the  signs  favorable,  agreed  to  let  him  go.  She  warned 
him  repeatedly,  'Wherever  yo  go,  Chile,  look  out  dat 
de  Goblins  don't  git  ye.  Dey's  powerful  spry.' 

That  being  decided,  Eb  started  out  on  his  adventures, 
taking  only  one  crust  of  gingerbread  which  his  Mother 
had  been  able  to  find  at  the  last  moment.  After  a 
time  he  came  to  a  place  where  the  path  divided.  The 
main  path  was  marked  with  the  sign: 

THIS  WAY  TO  THE  VILLAGE.    SAFE  AND  QUIET.' 

The  other  path  \vas  little  used,  and  pointing  to  it  was 
the  sign: 

THIS    WAY    TO    THE    ENCHANTED    FOREST.      VERY 
VENTUROUS.     BEWARE   OF   GOBLINS.' 

'Well,'  said  the  little  Blackman,  'Ah's  huntin'  fo'  ad 
ventures,  and  Ah  shu  wants  'em  wild!'  He  turned  into 
the  path  leading  to  the  Enchanted  Forest,  whistling  a 
merry  tune.  As  the  forest  got  more  dark  and  dismal 


The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland      75 


his  tunes  grew  less  gay,  and  finally  ceased  altogether. 
The  forest  grew  constantly  more  damp  and  gloomy. 
Long  white  moss  draped  from  the  tree  branches  and 
swayed  among  the  shadows.  Eb  showed  more  and  more 
of  the  whites  of  his  eyes.  He  was  alert  but  not  afraid. 
He  was  a  brave  little  Blackman. 

Suddenly  a  young  Goblin  in  a  red  cloak  over  a  green 
velvet  uniform,  leaped  from  the  bushes  and  barred  the 
way.  He  was  also  black,  short,  and  fat,  but  not  quite 
as  round  as  Eb.  Each  was  surprised  because  they 
looked  so  much  alike.  At  length  the  Goblin  declared: 
'This  is  MAH  forest.  It  is  all  enchanted  en  every 
thing,  and  Ah  don'  allow  no  huntin' !' 

'Who's  huntin'?' 

'Yo  is.' 

'Ah  is?     What's  Ah  huntin'  fo?' 

'Yo  all's  huntin'  fo  adventure.' 

'Well,  Ah  reckon  Ah  don'  need  no  license  fo  dat.' 

'In  this  heah  forest  yo  needs  a  license  fo  everything, 
en  yo  cain't  do  nothin'  notime.  Yo  goes  back,  lil 
Blackman.' 

'Ah  does  not.    Git  out'er  mah  way,  Goblin.' 

'Yo  goes  back,  lil  Blackman.' 

'Yo  git  out'er  mah  way,  Goblin.' 

By  this  time  the  fat  little  Goblin  and  the  fat  little 
Blackman  had  come  in  contact  and  were  pushing  each 
other  about  the  path.  They  grappled  and  soon  were 


76  Rainbow  Stories 


rolling  over  the  ground.  Rolling  was  just  what  the 
little  Blackman  liked;  it  was  easy  for  him  because  he 
was  as  round  as  a  ball.  They  rolled  over  and  over 
each  other,  and  when  the  Goblin  began  to  flatten  out  a 
bit  his  red  cloak  came  off.  They  rolled  back  and  forth 
— back  and  forth  until  the  Goblin  was  almost  as  flat  as 
a  pancake.  Then  the  Goblin  said,  'Croak/  and  out  of 
the  green  velvet  uniform  hopped  a  great  green  Frog 
with  nothing  on  him  but  a  cold  perspiration. 

'Croak,  croak/  the  Frog  repeated  as  he  hurriedly 
hopped  under  a  bush. 

The  green  uniform  was  now  quite  flat,  and  on  ex 
amining  it  the  little  Blackman  found  it  empty.  'These 
must  be  magic  garments/  he  thought.  'I  will  put  them 
on  and  see  what  will  happen.'  As  soon  as  he  had  made 
the  change  he  looked  under  the  bush  where  the  Frog 
had  gone  and  there,  carefully  concealed,  was  the  opening 
to  a  cave. 

'Croak,  croak/  said  the  Frog  and  fled  into  the  cave. 
The  little  Blackman  followed,  but  the  Frog  managed 
to  escape  in  the  darkness.  Determined  to  explore  the 
cave  thoroughly  the  little  Blackman  wandered  on  for 
some  time,  and  finally  emerged  from  another  opening 
and  found  himself  in  the  courtyard  of  a  castle  on  the 
mountainside. 

'This  must  be  the  Enchanted  Castle/  thought  Ebony. 
'  'en  Ah  shu  will  find  adventure  there.'  He  walked 


The  Little  Blackman  of  Wmkieland      77 


boldly  up  the  steps.  Footmen,  in  green  livery  with 
yellow  turbans,  bowed  low  and  opened  the  doors.  He 
entered  a  hall  of  noble  proportions  built  of  green 
marble  and  ornamented  with  great  yellow  topazes.  A 
serving  man  in  green  livery  with  yellow  turban  came 
before  him  and  bowing  low  said,  'Will  yo  Majesty 
ride  the  royal  Elephant  to  the  throne  room,  or  does  yo 
choose  to  'spect  the  castle?' 

'Where  is  I?'  the  little  Blackman  inquired  in  a  dazed 
way. 

'Yu  shu  is  in  yo  own  castle/  the  serving  man  replied 
with  a  grin.  'Don  yo  know  you  old  valet?  Yo  shu 
always  did  like  yo  funny  jokes.  Ya,  ha,  ha,  but  scuse 
me,  yo  Majesty  shu  has  grown  mo  adipose  round  de 
circumference  during  you  trabels.  Shall  Ah  ordah  same 
as  befo  fo  yo  royal  luncheon,  de  royal  buttermilk?' 

This  remark  so  annoyed  the  little  Blackman  that  he 
exclaimed  'Oh,  Gingerbread!'  and  snapped  hs  ringers, 
snap,  snap,  just  like  that.  As  if  in  response  to  an  un 
derstood  signal,  footmen,  butlers,  and  valets  came  run 
ning  into  the  room  and  prostrated  themselves  before 
him. 

The  little  Blackman  suspected  by  this  time  that  he 
was  being  mistaken  for  the  King  Goblin  whose  uniform 
he  was  wearing,  and  determined  to  play  the  part  and 
see  what  would  happen.  So,  striking  a  dignified  and 
haughty  pose  he  announced:  'Befo  Ah  rides  de 


78  Rainbow  Stories 


royal  Elephant,  Ah  reckons  Ah  will  'spect  mah  castle. 
Lead  de  way.'  He  had  added  the  command  as  a  pre 
caution  for,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  he  did  not  know  the 
way  himself. 

The  first  room  was  of  onyx  and  glass.  The  sunshine 
streamed  in,  sparkling  upon  tinkling  fountains  of  rose 
water.  Mocking  birds  sang  among  the  jasmine,  butter 
flies  fluttered  among  the  orchids,  and  on  the  mosaic 
floor  were  strewn  silken  rugs  and  lion  skins. 

The  second  room  was  of  alabaster,  with  pillars  of 
gold  studded  with  scintillating  diamonds.  The  little 
Blackman  walked  slowly  through  this  room,  dragging 
his  feet  along  the  white  marble  floor,  but  when  they 
entered  the  third  room  he  stopped,  spellbound  with 
awe,  wonder,  and  delight.  The  room  was  made  en 
tirely  of  gingerbread,  supported  by  striped  candy  pil 
lars,  and  trimmed  with  dripping  and  generously  over 
flowing  strawberry  ice  cream  cones. 

'Stop  de  procession !  Stop  de  procession !'  the  little 
Blackman  commanded. 

'Which  is  mah  domicile?'  he  asked,  swallowing 
rapidly. 

'All  of  them/  the  serving  men  replied  in  chorus. 

'Ah  wishes  to  be  alone,'  the  little  Blackman  said, 
waving  his  hand  in  a  dignified  gesture  of  dismissal. 
The  whites  of  his  eyes  were  rolling  as  he  glanced  from 
cupboard  to  cupboard,  for  upon  them  were  such  signs 


The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland      79 


as  'Hot  Fried  Chicken  with  Cream  Gravy,'  'Hot  Roast 
Possum  and  Sweet  Potatoes,'  'Hot  Pumpkin  Pie/  'Ice 
Cold  Watermelon/ 

The  servants  bowed  themselves  out,  walking  back 
ward  most  respectfully.  Then  the  little  Blackman  ate 
his  way  from  cupboard  to  cupboard.  After  a  time  he 
began  to  notice  that  there  were  other  things  in  the 
room. 

Around  the  room  was  a  row  of  chests.  On  one  was 
written,  'Here  sleeps  the  sweetest  Princess  in  this 
room.'  He  lifted  the  cover  and  saw  such  a  sweet  and 
lovely  creature  that  he  was  tempted  to  ask  her  then 
and  there  to  be  his  wife,  but  on  second  thought  decided 
that  he  would  look  at  the  others  first.  After  looking  in 
all  the  other  chests  he  concluded  that  the  first  Princess 
was  the  sweetest,  but  on  going  back  to  her  he  found 
that  after  all,  she  was  only  a  gingerbread  girl. 

His  surprise  was  so  great  that  he  exclaimed  again 
'Oh,  Gingerbread !'  and  snapped  his  fingers,  snap,  snap, 
just  like  that,  whereupon  a  million  mice  scampered  in 
and  began  to  gnaw  down  the  room. 

The  little  Blackman,  in  alarm,  ran  into  the  gold  and 
diamond  room  and  closed  the  door.  Around  that  room 
also,  there  were  many  chests,  but  they  were  of  deeply 
carved  gold  and  thickly  set  with  diamonds.  On  one  was 
written,  'Here  sleeps  the  richest  Princess  in  this  room.' 

He  lifted  the  cover  and  there  was  a  lady  with  two 


80  Rainbow  Stories 


chins  quietly  sleeping,  entirely  surrounded  with  bushels 
of  diamonds.  He  lifted  the  cover  of  the  other  chests, 
but  found  all  the  Princesses  in  them  had  more  chins  and 
less  diamonds,  so  he  went  back  to  the  first  Princess. 

'Ah's  out  to  seek  mah  fortune,  en  Ah  think  Ah  done 
found  it/  he  said  as  he  touched  her  hand.  The  hand 
was  ice  cold.  He  drew  back,  and  on  looking  carefully 
found  that  after  all  the  lady  was  only  a  figure  of  gold 
entirely  surrounded  by  cracked  ice. 

The  little  Blackman  fled  into  the  sunny  room  and 
closed  the  door  tightly  to  keep  out  the  draft.  After 
sunning  himself  until  the  chill  wore  off,  he  looked  about 
and  noticed  a  chest  upon  which  was  written  in  sapphires, 
'The  Wishing  Box.'  He  lifted  the  cover,  and  there  sat 
a  wizened-up  little  old  Wizard. 

'What  do  you  wish  for  most?'  the  Wizard  asked. 

The  little  Blackman  hesitated. 

'Come,  speak  up  smart  and  save  my  time.  I  can't 
stand  that  draft.  What  do  you  wish  for  most,  Ebony?' 

'How  come  yo  all  knows  mah  name?' 

'That's  a  part  of  the  Wizard  business.  I  mention 
names,  give  dates,  locate  lost  articles,  tell  the  past, 
present  and  future.  Satisfaction  guaranteed.  What 
do  you  wish  for,  Ebony?' 

'Ah  wishes  to  be  a  shu  'nough  Prince  in  a  purple 
velvet  suit,  en-en-en- 

'And  what,  and  what?'  the  Wizard  snapped  impa 
tiently. 


The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland      81 


'En  mebby,  not  so  fat.' 

'A  Prince  in  purple  velvet  you  shall  be,  but  as  for 
getting  thin — tut,  tut,  don't  wish  it!  It  makes  wrinkles. 
I  was  fat,  and  wished  myself  thin,  now  look  at  me.' 
He  traced  his  bony  fingers  over  his  face  and  squeaked 
'Wrinkled  like  a  washboard!  Prince  Ebony  you  are, 
but,  if  you  are  greedy — back  you  go  to  be  Eb,  the  little 
Blackman.'  Then  the  Wizard  pulled  a  string,  and 
down  fell  the  cover  with  a  bang. 

Ebony  caressed  his  new  purple  velvets  with  pride,  then 
he  looked  at  the  next  chest.  On  it  was  written  in  pearls, 
'Here  sleeps  the  best  and  most  beautiful  Princess  in  all 
Africa.'  He  lifted  the  cover,  and  there  sweetly  sleep 
ing  was  the  most  lovely  maiden  he  had  ever  seen.  On 
her  breast  were  scattered  tiny  white  lilies  to  form  the 
words,  'Who  kisses  me,  awakens  me.' 

Prince  Ebony  kissed  her  on  the  forehead.  The 
Princess  opened  her  eyes  and  smiled.  'My  Prince  has 
come  at  last,'  she  murmured.  Taking  his  hand  she 
stepped  from  the  chest.  For  a  moment  Ebony  held  her 
in  his  arms,  but  over  her  shoulder  he  spied  other  chests 
marked  with  the  names  of  other  Princesses;  a  rose- 
colored  chest  marked  Romance,  a  crimson  chest  marked 
Adventure,  and  a  black  chest  marked  Experience.  Leav 
ing  the  beautiful  Princess  he  went  over  and  stood  be 
fore  the  chest  marked  Experience. 

The  Princess  in  alarm  cried,  'Do  not  open  that!'  but 


82  Rainbow  Stories 


Ebony  lifted  the  cover,  and  stooping  far  over,  peered 
into  the  depths.  At  that  moment  the  lid  of  the  Wish 
ing  Box  flew  open.  The  Wizard  popped  up  his  head, 
shouted,  'Greedy,'  and  slammed  down  the  cover. 
Prince  Ebony  tumbled  into  the  chest  of  Experience 
head  first,  and  the  lid  snapped  closed. 

There  seemed  to  be  no  bottom  to  the  chest  and,  as 
Prince  Ebony  fell,  he  realized  that  he  had  changed  back 
to  Eb,  the  fat  little  Blackman.  Down  he  fell — down 
and  down  and  down.  Ofi  the  sides  of  the  shaft  were 
shelves  piled  with  gold  coins.  'Wherever  Ah  goes  Ah 
needs  money/  he  thought,  as  he  reached  for  a  handful. 
Below  the  gold  were  shelves  of  sapphires.  Dropping  the 
gold  he  seized  a  handful  of  the  precious  stones.  Below 
the  sapphires  were  shelves  of  diamonds.  'Um,  um!'  he 
said,  'Dey  is  de  best  of  all.'  Dropping  the  sapphires  he 
reached  for  the  diamonds,  but  they  changed  in  his  hand 
to  thistles. 

The  little  Blackman  was  still  pulling  out  thistles  and 
muttering  to  himself  when  he  reached  the  bottom  of 
the  shaft,  and  fell  with  a  resounding  thump  upon  an 
immense  spring  mattress  which  tossed  him  into  the  air 
again  and  again.  While  he  was  bouncing  up  and  down 
he  was  able  to  see  that  he  was  in  a  sort  of  throne  room 
in  a  cave.  Hundreds  of  Gnomes  in  green  uniforms 
were  standing  before  a  throne  on  which  sat  a  great 
green  Frog  wearing  only  a  cold  perspiration. 


The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland      83 


When  Eb  made  his  sudden  appearance  the  Frog  stood 
up  and  shouted,  'There  he  is  now — the  little  Blackman 
who  took  my  clothes.' 

Howling  with  rage  the  Gnomes  started  for  the  mat 
tress  upon  which  Eb  was  still  bouncing,  but  with  les 
sening  force.  By  a  great  effort  he  was  able  to  fall  off 
on  the  opposite  side  where,  under  the  protection  of  the 
great  mattress,  he  threw  off  the  red  cloak;  then  he  ran 
around  and  mingled  with  the  throng,  howling  with 
them,  'Where  is  the  little  Blackman?'  but  keeping  his 
face  covered  with  his  arm. 

In  the  distance  Eb  saw  the  moonlight  shining  into 
the  cavern  entrance.  He  ran  for  it  as  fast  as  he  could 
go.  The  King  Frog  saw  him  and  shouted  in  a  high 
voice :  'Where's  he  goin'  ?'  Where's  he  goin'  ?'  then  as  he 
realized  the  situation  he  croaked  in  a  deep  bass  tone, 
'Out,  out.'  The  Frog  leaped  from  his  throne  and  led 
the  pursuit. 

The  little  Blackman  saw  with  dismay  that  the  en 
trance  was  barred  by  gates,  and  that  two  sentries  were 
on  guard.  'Make  way  fo  de  King,'  he  shouted,  waving 
his  arms.  'Make  way  fo  de  King!  Open  fo  de  King! 
Open  for  de  King!' 

The  sentries  sprang  to  the  gates  and  began  to  open 
them,  but  they  discovered  the  trick  and  were  closing 
them  again  when  Eb  dashed  through.  'Now  close  fo  de 
little  Blackman,'  he  jeered. 


84  Rainbow  Stories 


The  heavy  gates  clanged  together  almost  striking  the 
nose  of  the  King  Frog  who  stopped  the  pursuit  so  sud 
denly  that  the  mob  of  Gnomes,  who  were  close  behind, 
tumbled  over  him  and  piled  up  against  the  gates.  When 
they  got  themselves  disentangled  they  found  the  poor 
Frog  badly  hurt.  Wailing  a  melancholy  lament,  the 
Gnomes  carried  their  King  back  into  the  cave. 

Eb  continued  to  run  along  the  path  until  he  believed 
himself  safe  from  pursuit,  then  he  curled  up  against  a 
tree  trunk  and  went  to  sleep. 

The  moon  was  still  shining  brightly  when  he  was 
awakened  by  two  Gnomes  who  were  carrying  a  heavy 
signboard. 

'Help  us  carry  this  to  the  castle/  said  one  of  them. 

'But  we  cannot  pay  you,'  the  other  one  added. 

'Oh,  dat's  all  right,'  Eb  answered  cheerfully,  'Ah 
done  lost  mah  fortune  by  being  greedy.'  He  stepped  in 
between  the  two  Gnomes  and  raising  his  shoulder 
against  the  heavy  signboard  carried  his  share  of  the 
weight  easily.  As  they  walked  along  the  path  Eb  cheer 
ed  up  his  melancholy  companions  by  singing  fragments 
of  jungle  songs.  The  Gnomes  finally  became  so  in 
terested  that  they  even  joined  in  the  refrain,  'Shine  on, 
moonlight,'  of  one  of  them.  It  went  something  like 
this: 


The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland      85 


At  night,  when  de  jungle  monkeys  sleep, 

Shine  on,  moonlight, 
Ah  finds  mah  Liz  in  de  jungle  deep, 

Shine  on,  moonlight, 

By  de  whites  of  her  shining'  eyes  dat  roll 
In  a  face  as  black  as  a  lump  of  coal, 
Fo  mah  gal's  all  black  except  her  soul — 

Shine  on,  moonlight. 

Deep  in  de  jungle  lives  mah  maid, 

Shine  on,  moonlight, 
With  her  hair  done  up  in  a  monkey  braid, 

Shine  on,  moonlight; 
Ah  courts  her  when  de  moon  am  riz, 
An  Ah  whispers,  "Is  you  mah  honey,  Liz?" 
An  she  goo-goos  back,  "O'  cose  Ah  is." 

Shine  on,  moonlight. 

Oh,  the  jungle  life  is  the  life  for  me, 

Shine  on,  moonlight, 
Where  the  bread  tree  grows  and  the  fruit  is  free, 

Shine  on,  moonlight; 

Ah'll  marry  mah  Liz  with  the  goo-goo  talk, 
An  de  kinkey  hair,  and  de  cotton  smock, 
An  de  love-me-eyes,  as  white  as  chalk — 

Shine  on,  moonlight. 


86  Rainbow  Stories 


In  the  dim  light  of  the  early  morning  they  reached 
the  gateway  of  a  great  castle  that  terraced  up  the 
mountainside  for  a  great  distance.  When  the  Gnomes 
had  lashed  the  sign  to  the  bars  of  the  gate  this  is  what 
the  little  Blackman  read: 

NOTICE. 

THE   KING   IS   DEAD. 
UPON    THE   ROOF   OF   THIS    CASTLE   IS 

A   VACANT   THRONE. 
THE  PRINCE  WHO  SHALL  BE  IN  THE  THRONE 

WHEN  THE  SUN  RISES  SHALL  BE  KING 

AND   WED   THE   BEST   AND   MOST   BEAUTIFUL 

PRINCESS   IN   ALL  WINKIELAND; 

BUT 

THOSE  WHO  ARE  FOUND  ON  THE  STAIRCASES 

WHEN  THE  SUN  RISES  SHALL  BE  SLAVES. 

LONG   LIVE   THE   KING! 

The  little  Blackman  read  the  notice  over  again,  then 
remarked  to  the  Gnomes,  'Well,  Ah  done  come  out  to 
hunt  fo  adventure  and  to  seek  mah  fortune — about  how 
far  do  you  reckon  it  is  to  de  top?' 

'It  will  be  ten  more  staircases  for  ten  staircases,  then 
ten  more  staircases  for  thirty  more  staircases,  then  ten 
more  staircases.' 

Eb  rubbed  his  head  thoughtfully.     'That  sounds  like 


The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland      87 


a  powerful  lot  of  staircases.  'Bout  how  many  does  yo 
reckon  they  is?' 

'Count  them,'  the  Gnomes  replied.  'Are  you  a 
Prince  ?' 

'Well,  not  exactly  a  Prince  today,  but  Ah  was  yes 
terday,  and  Ah  may  be  again — that  is  if  I  can  find 
that  Wishin'  Box.' 

The  Gnomes  looked  at  each  other  knowingly,  then 
they  tiptoed  over  very  close  to  the  little  Blackman  and, 
after  looking  around  cautiously,  whispered  in  unison: 
'Count  forty,  then  turn  to  the  right.' 

Eb  closed  his  eyes  and  began  to  count.  'No,  no,  not 
now,'  the  Gnomes  interrupted,  'use  your  judgment.' 
The  Gnomes  ran  away  laughing. 

The  little  Blackman  watched  them  until  they  disap 
peared  up  the  path.  Still  puzzling  over  their  meaning, 
he  walked  through  the  castle  gateway,  across  a  paved 
courtyard  to  the  beginning  of  a  broad  white  marble 
staircase.  Leaping  two  steps  at  a  time  he  made  rapid 
progress,  although  the  stairs  were  remarkably  long. 

At  the  head  of  the  staircase  was  a  sign : 

THERE  ARE  TEN  MORE  STAIRCASES. 
TURN  BACK  AND  SAVE  YOURSELF. 

The  little  Blackman  continued  to  climb.  At  the  head 
of  the  second  staircase  there  was  a  sign  like  the  first 
one,  and  one  also  at  the  head  of  every  staircase  for  ten 


Rainbow  Stories 


staircases.  The  little  Blackman  continued  to  climb 
rapidly  and  passed  many  Princes  who  were  sitting  on 
the  steps  to  rest.  The  same  sign  was  at  the  head  of 
every  staircase,  and  when  he  had  climbed  ten  more  he 
began  to  meet  many  tired  Princes  who,  having  become 
discouraged,  were  coming  down  more  rapidly  than  they 
went  up.  Still  the  little  Blackman  continued.  At  the 
head  of  every  staircase  was  that  discouraging  sign : 

THERE  ARE  TEN  MORE  STAIRCASES. 
TURN  BACK  AND  SAVE  YOURSELF. 

When  he  had  counted  forty  staircases  he  remembered 
the  mysterious  warning  of  the  Gnomes,  'Count  forty  and 
turn  to  the  right.'  Looking  to  the  right-hand  side  of 
the  corridor  he  saw  a  small  door.  Going  near  it  he  was 
able  to  find  a  small  golden  plate  on  which  were  the 
words  outlined  in  sapphires: 

SUNSHINE  ROOM. 

The  little  Blackman  opened  the  door  and  walked  in. 
It  was  a  room  of  onyx  and  glass.  He  heard  the  tinkling 
of  water  falling  in  crystal  fountains,  and  caught  the 
perfume  of  rose  water  and  of  jasmine  flowers.  'The 
very  same  room,'  he  declared,  and  going  quickly  to  the 
Wishing  Box,  lifted  the  cover. 

'So  here  is  Eb  again/  said  the  wizened-up  little  old 
Wizard.  'What  do  you  wish  for  today?' 


The  Little  Blackman  of  Winkieland      89 


'Ah'll  take  same  as  yesterday,  an  Ah  won't  be  greedy 
no  mo'. 

'All  right.  Prince  Ebony  in  purple  velvet  you  are,  but 
if  you  are  greedy,  back  you  go  to  be  Eb,  the  little  Black- 
man.'  The  Wizard  pulled  a  string  and  down  went  the 
cover. 

The  new-made  Prince  quickly  lifted  the  cover  of  the 
chest  where  the  beautiful  Princess  had  been  sleeping, 
but  found  it  empty.  No  one  was  to  be  seen  in  the 
room.  Hurrying  into  the  corridor  he  ran  up  the  stairs 
faster  than  ever  to  make  up  for  lost  time.  He  saw  no 
more  signs  and  when  he  had  counted  ten  more  stair 
cases  he  came  out  on  the  roof  of  the  castle. 

On  a  platform  of  white  marble  was  a  golden  throne. 
Prince  Ebony  ran  to  it,  and  had  no  more  than  seated 
himself  squarely  upon  it  than  the  first  rays  of  the  rising 
sun  gleamed  upon  the  golden  crown  that  supported  the 
canopy  of  purple  velvet.  Then  he  saw  standing  beside 
him  the  beautiful  Princess  whom  he  had  awakened  with 
a  kiss. 

'My  brave  Prince,'  she  said  as  she  smiled  and  extend 
ed  her  hand. 

'Mah  beautiful  Princess  shall  be  the  Queen,'  he  re 
plied  as  he  gallantly  raised  her  hand  to  his  lips. 

The  roof  was  now  thronged  with  the  brilliantly  cos 
tumed  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Royal  Court  of 
Winkieland. 


90  Rainbow  Stories 


Bells  rang  out  their  merry  chimes  and  the  people 
cheered,  'Long  live  King  Ebony  of  Winkieland !' 

That  very  morning  in  the  Sunshine  Room  King 
Ebony  was  married  to  the  best  and  most  beautiful 
Princess  in  all  Africa  by  the  wizened-up  little  old 
Wizard  who  came  out  of  his  Wishing  Box  for  that 
very  purpose,  and  they  lived  and  ruled  their  Kingdom 
happily  for  many  years. 

At  the  wedding  breakfast  King  Ebony  asked  for 
gingerbread,  and  issued  a  royal  edict  that  every  young 
person  in  all  his  Kingdom  was  justly  entitled  to  have 
two  pieces  of  gingerbread  every  day,  and  as  long  as 
that  law  was  obeyed  peace  reigned  in  the  Enchanted 
Forest  of  Winkieland." 


"That  will  be  the  last  story  for  the  day,"  said  the 
Teacher,  dismissing  the  school.  "Be  careful  in  going 
down  the  rainbow." 

Johnnie  Bob  arose  to  his  feet.  The  dampness  had 
made  the  rainbow  slippery  and  he  began  to  slide.  Faster 
and  faster  he  fell.  He  could  faintly  hear  the  Teacher's 
warning  voice  calling, 

"Johnnie  Bob!    Johnnie  Bob!" 

When  he  struck  the  ground  he  sat  up  suddenly  to 
look  around.  He  was  back  home  again  in  his  own  back 
yard,  and  his  Mother  was  calling  him  to  supper. 

THE  END 


L  006  784  942  2 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL .LIBRARY  FAC  LITY 


A    001  422  672    4 


